Chapter 7: Trial

So far, so good. Sixteen cases. Ten hearings were over, six more to go. In seven of them, Judge Pollock had decided to have the marriage annulled, mostly because it was obvious that the unwilling couples had absolutely nothing in common and most of them hadn't seen each other in months. In three cases though he had postponed handing down his decision until he had heard all of the cases. In those three cases, the couples had been in relationships before their so-called "weddings" and actually, they still were in relationships.

Those circumstances made Logan more than just a bit nervous. He wasn't sure what that meant for him and Rory. On one hand, they definitely had been together at the time the wedding had taken place. On the other hand, they were broken up now, sadly, and before this mess, hadn't seen each other for months. Or rather, hadn't talked with each other in months. He had seen her occasionally. They were attending the same school after all and Yale was big, but only so big for two students in Journalism, even if they were a year apart, to not see each other once in a while.

And, what no one knew, not even Finn and Colin, was that Logan had sometimes gone to see her, drinking in the sight of her, covered by shadows. It had hurt like hell, seeing her and not being able to go to her, knowing that she didn't want to see him anymore. Still, there had been days when he simply had been desperate to at least see her. And in some of those days, if it had been too late at night in Logan's opinion, he had even followed her home, not liking the idea that she went by herself to that damned dump she lived in. He still would worry about her every now and then – her place wasn't safe, never would be, not in that neighborhood – but a bit less when he knew that she was at least behind those many locks and with Paris and Doyle there who could help and protect her – well, with Paris there. Plus, he had, secretly of course, also hired a security service company to keep an eye on the building she lived in, her apartment and especially on her.

He knew that this wasn't his business anymore. Rory would probably rip him apart, should she ever get wind of it. It was a bit stalker-like, even he had to admit that. And he didn't give a damn about it. It was bad enough to be separated from her but he would never be able to bear it if something happened to her. That something could very likely happen was unfortunately highly possible, with her living in that slum area. It wasn't hard to tell that Rory and Paris did come from wealthier families than anyone else living in that neighborhood. So robbery was always a plausible danger to her. It was even easier to find out that Rory actually came from not only one, but two very rich families and was heiress to a fortune, even if his Ace, smart as she was, still hadn't grasped that – or hadn't wanted to acknowledge it. He never had figured out what it was, not that he tried hard. He just accepted it and let her live in denial. But it definitely did make her a likely candidate for kidnapping for ransom and that added another danger to her. And last but definitely not least: she was beautiful, a young, sexy, healthy girl, naïve and perhaps a bit too trusting and even if that area of New Haven was far from being as bad as some parts of New York or Chicago were, perverts lived everywhere, just like rapists and serial killers. He was in the news business, he knew that only too well. And the thought of his precious Ace falling into the hands of such psychos…

His business or not, stalker-like or not, together with her or not, he'd always make sure that she was as safe as possible. He needed to.

Logan sighed, pushing his hands deep into his pockets. This need to protect her. It always had been there, right from the beginning. It started with little things and soon moved on to bigger possible threats. To make sure that she got home safely. Often, she had protested, told him that it was ridiculous that he accompanied her for those few steps to her dorm, but he wouldn't hear any of it. But it hadn't just been the need to keep her physically safe. No, it also had been a need to protect her from emotional pain. The first time he had realized that was when that asshole of her ex-boyfriend had broken up with her, right in front of her grandparent's house, right in front of a bunch of strangers and had left her standing there, crushed and crying. He could have killed that bastard right then and there. To be frank, he could still kill him, even after a little over a year. But back then, the need to make sure that she was okay had been even stronger, so he had, reluctantly, not followed the jerk but instead had gone to Rory, doing his best to cheer her up, lessen her pain.

Yeah, he had always tried to protect her. And had failed miserably. Sure, he had kept her safe. But in the end, he had forgotten to protect her from himself, from his family and so had probably hurt her more than that idiot ever had. Perhaps more than anyone ever could.

Losing her sure hurt more than anything he had ever experienced before.

They said time would heal.

His eyes wandered over to Rory and drank in the sight of her standing with her mother, a few feet away from him, talking with Wellburn.

He didn't believe it. Deep down, Logan knew that the only way to stop the pain, this terrible ache, was to win her back, somehow, or learn to live for the rest of his life with that pain.

And from the looks of it, it seemed to be the latter option. They hadn't talked again since his slip up as she was avoiding him once again. Though to be fair, he wasn't too keen on meeting her either, still too confused by his unwanted and shocking comment about marriage. He closed his eyes and leaned against the cool wall behind him. He didn't get it. He was too young to think about marriage, they were too young. Okay, she was twenty-one, he twenty-three. Their grandparents had been long married by then. His father had already been engaged. Rory was already five years old when her mother had been in that age. But things were different nowadays. He wasn't finished with school yet and Rory still had another year to go. Not to mention that as soon as school was out, he would have to do a lot of traveling. Hell, his father wanted him to stay for a year in London, right after graduation. His family hated her. Her mother hated him.

Yet…

Perhaps just because he was this close to the years of school being over forever, starting his life as an adult, he was starting to think about a future. Before Rory, he had always thought there was no future for him, at least not a future he could choose. His work was set, a practical, useful marriage was set, the expectation of an heir was set, preferably two kids.

Then he had met Rory. Seen that she, even when her situation was slightly different, was given free choice in what she wanted to do, where she wanted to go in life. And through her he had learned of her mother, bravely walking out of this set life at seventeen. Had learned of her father, rebelling against his fate, going out into the world as well to make it on his own. Had learned of her best friend, breaking free from a suffocating life planned by her mother to follow her heart and go after her dream. And he had gotten a closer look at her grandparents, being part of high society and so very similar to what he had known his whole life – with the exception that Richard and Emily were connected through a deep love for each other, had the real thing, not some lame substitute, and he could see that though they had trouble showing it, they loved Lorelai and Rory deeply.

So it was possible. To have free choice. To be happy, even if one followed his destiny. Or to find himself a new destiny, only if he is brave enough to burn down the bridges to his own family.

And slowly, without him realizing it, his heart thought out this plan to have it all. So yeah, he would take over the business, like it was expected of him, because really, it was the only thing he knew, and he was good at it. And he did love the business. But apart from that, his life belonged to him and he alone could decide and make decisions about it. He would choose the woman he wanted at his side, not his mother, not his father and surely not his grandfather either. No one but him.

And his heart had already chosen. Perhaps already long ago, perhaps only recently, but it definitely had chosen. The girl he had loved and lost. The girl who hated him but still could find it in herself to defend him in front of her mother. The girl who was so perfect for him that it amazed him time and time again.

The girl he was already married to.

His eyes opened and instinctively sought out said girl. His Ace.

He hadn't known it – or rather said, realized this before his slip up the other day. Sure, there had been a flicker of thought in that direction here and there but he had already been quick to push it away. But as it had been with his realization that he loved her, way too late, he knew now that it was an undeniable fact and no longer fought it.

He not only wanted Rory back… he wanted her for good. As in 'life until death do us part' and beyond that.

If that was even an option was yet another story.

So was it any wonder that he was super nervous about the questions he was going to be asked? Because if the truth of his feelings messed this up, he was going to be so in trouble with his Ace.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Logan pushed away from the wall and walked towards Rory and Mr. Wellburn inside the courtroom just as the Clerk of the Court called their case:

Case No. 896498

Logan E. Huntzberger and Lorelai L. Gilmore, Plaintiffs

vs.

Thomas T. Jones, Defendant


"So, Mrs. Huntzberger, is it okay if I call you Mrs. Huntzberger?"

Logan frowned.

"I prefer Ms. Gilmore," Rory answered stiffly.

"Of course, of course…. But… hmm… have you or have you not signed a document in which you declared your willingness to marry one Logan Elias Huntzberger?" Mr. Flint, Jones's lawyer asked innocently, his eyes though iron hard.

"Yes, I have," Rory replied calmly.

"And have you or have you not then proceeded to take part in a ceremony, in front of your friends, in which you took Mr. Huntzberger to be your wedded husband?" Flint continued his questioning.

"Yes, I have," Rory repeated, more tensely now.

"So… you agreed both on paper as with your own words to wed Mr. Huntzberger, in front of witnesses and the magistrate, Thomas Jones, correct?"

Visibly reluctantly, Rory nodded. "Yes."

"Which makes you, in front of the law and God, Mrs. Logan Elias Huntzberger, right?" This time, Flint didn't even wait for Rory to answer his question but simply continued. "So why should I address you with your maiden name, Mrs. Huntzberger?"

Wellburn rose. "Objection, your honor. My client never denied having taken part at the wedding ceremony. This isn't the intention of this hearing."

"Your honor, I am just trying to make sure if Mrs. Huntzberger here sees the extent of her actions," Flint protested. "This is, after all, the true essence of the matter we are trying to clear here."

Judge Pollock nodded. "Continue… but be careful, Mr. Flint," he added a slight warning.

Logan bit his lips in order to not protest. He knew that that would be completely wrong thing to do – but he didn't like how this lawyer treated his Ace, not at all. Wellburn's questions had been short and covered all basic points. He had explained to them that this way, he could let the defendant fire his munitions and then open the crossfire. Then, it had sounded logical. Now, it felt very dangerous.

Flint turned back to Rory, but didn't continue to harass her about her name. At least not with further questions on it. "Well, Mrs. Huntzberger, let's focus on the ceremony then. You were in a relationship with Mr. Huntzberger by the time the ceremony took place," he stated.

"Yes," Rory answered shortly.

"For how long?" Flint wanted to know.

"About half a year," Rory answered without any hesitation. "But it ended shortly after," she added.

Yeah, of course she had to add that, Logan thought darkly.

"We'll come to that later on," Flint waved her comment away. "You did know Mr. Huntzberger for longer though, right?"

"Yes," Rory answered shortly.

"How long exactly?" Flint didn't relent though.

"I've met Logan at the beginning of sophomore year, so not quite a year and a half," Rory answered, trying to be detailed.

"And for how long did you sleep with him?" Flint asked casually.

Rory paled and dimly, Logan could hear Lorelai curse Flint under her breath through the angry haze in his head. He balled his hands to fists. How dare that bastard be that rough and coarse to Rory?

Wellburn too had quickly jumped to his feet. "Your honor, really, this goes way too far," he protested with vehemence.

"I know that this is a delicate matter but I wouldn't mention it if I didn't think it important to show a certain weakness in Mrs. Huntzberger's character," Flint calmly elaborated.

A flaw in Rory's character? Was that man crazy?

The judge frowned, but in the end, he waved Flint to continue.

"Mrs. Huntzberger?" Flint turned triumphantly back to Rory.

"For a few weeks before we went steady," Rory answered, anger seeping into her voice and her eyes.

"Actually about two months, if I'm correct, am I not?" Flint corrected her answer.

'How did that bastard know all this?' Logan wondered, his nails burring into his palms.

"Around that, yeah," Rory reluctantly confirmed.

"And in these two months you and Mr. Huntzberger's relationship was casual, right?" Flint clarified. "Friends with benefits, I believe it's called."

"Yes," Rory said quietly.

"And were you? Casual?" Flint asked.

Rory frowned.

"Did you sleep with other men during that time?" Flint elaborated.

"No," was Rory's short and quiet answer.

"And Mr. Huntzberger?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You would have to ask him that."

"Your honor, I really don't see what's the point in this," Wellburn voiced his protest.

"Mr. Wellburn is right, Mr. Flint, I think you've made your point," the judge finally agreed for once with Wellburn.

"Of course," Flint said, not chagrined at all, before he turned back to Rory. "Mrs. Huntzberger, you say you and Mr. Huntzberger are no longer a couple?"

Obviously relieved about the change of topic, Rory nodded. "Yes."

"For how long exactly are you two separated now?" Flint wanted to know.

"Three months," Rory answered.

"And the separation was your decision?" Flint continued.

Frowning, Logan looked at his Ace, waiting for her answer. This was a bit a tricky question.

"Mrs. Huntzberger?" Flint addressed her once again when she didn't answer immediately.

"No," Rory answered defensively.

"So it was Mr. Huntzberger's idea?"

Fleetingly, her eyes met Logan's, before she looked once again straight ahead. "Yes," she answered hesitantly.

"May I ask why?" Flint asked.

Slowly, Rory shrugged. "We had a big fight."

"Hmm… so one fight and already, you two are ready to give up a relationship of six months?"

Logan felt like sinking deeper into his chair, but he stayed where he was.

"It was a really big fight," Rory told Flint icily.

"How sad…" Flint commented sympathetically. "But from how I understood it, Mr. Huntzberger did try to get back together with you, a short while later, didn't he? But this time, you refused. Why was that?"

Really… how could Flint know this much about them?

Once again, Rory hesitated answering.

"Mrs. Huntzberger," Flint urged her on.

Eventually, Rory sighed. "He hurt me. It hurt to know that he so easily could simply give up on me. I was angry. And not at all ready to expose myself to him like that again."

Logan may have known that already, but to hear her say it out loud, see the pain still evident in her eyes, was like countless burning needles boring into his heart. If she could just believe him how truly sorry he was about that. If she just trusted him enough to give him a chance to make it right.

For a moment, Flint said nothing. "I'm sorry about that, Mrs. Huntzberger," he finally said, sounding honest. Too honest, Logan thought warily. "But, Mrs. Huntzberger, did you notice that your answer had been all in the past tense?"

Rory's eyes widened and she stared at him, while Wellburn was already getting on his feet again to protest. But Flint waved it away, indicating that he was retracting his question.

Nevertheless, what was said stood in the courtroom now and wouldn't be forgotten by anybody anytime soon. Surely not by Logan.

"I have only one last question for you, Mrs. Huntzberger," Flint told Rory and Logan felt the hairs of his neck stand up in apprehension. "Do you still love Mr. Huntzberger?" he asked softly.

His heart beating fast, Logan's eyes flew up and met with two deep blue eyes that looked helplessly at him upon this question.

Rory never had to answer that question, thanks to their lawyer's vehement protest.

And a tiny part of Logan almost was annoyed at that. But then… knowing his Ace like he did, he had been able to see her answer in those wide-blue eyes and what he had seen made hope flare up like a Christmas tree.


Still shaken by the questioning by Flint, Rory watched warily as Logan climbed the stand and was sworn to tell the truth. She had been adamant to make clear that this marriage was a joke, a fluke, and that they deserved the annulment like the other seven couples, even if they had been, in contrast to those couples, in a relationship.

But Flint…

Wellburn had warned her that Flint was a tricky man, one who excelled in making a witness unsure. And boy, he had been right.

He had unsettled her and made her lose her confidence, right with his very first words.

Mrs. Huntzberger.

Logan's mother was Mrs. Huntzberger. Certainly not her. She wasn't Logan's wife, not in the real sense. Yeah, on paper, they were married but that was about it. They didn't live together, he had never proposed, she never had the opportunity to look forward to her wedding, to get cold feet, to walk down the aisle, be by all the people she loved. God, they weren't even together anymore.

By her choice.

Logan of course, the enigma that he is, wanted to get back together.

Wanted to marry her.

Hastily, she pushed that treacherous thought away. She still had no idea what to think of Logan's slip up. So she had chosen to ignore his unbelievable comment. As far as one could forget about something like that. Instead, she had concentrated on the preparation for this hearing, on her studies, on her work for the paper. And had avoided him. As she had managed to do that, without seeing him not even once in the time since his remark about their right and proper kind of wedding, until today, she guessed he had done the same thing.

But did that mean that he hadn't meant what he had said?

Or did it mean that he just couldn't believe that he had slipped this, dumped it on her like that?

Or… had this wish perhaps been news for him as well? And he needed time for this realization to really sink in?

As Flint had pointed out so starkly, Rory knew him for quite some time now and she did learn a lot of things about him. Logan was a very confident, very self-assured man. Sometimes even arrogant. His confidence was part of the attraction she had felt for him. But once she got to know him better, she realized that while this was true for most things, there was one aspect where he totally lacked this confidence.

Emotions. Feelings.

Relationships.

Then again, how could he? His parents sure hadn't taught him that. His sister loved him, yeah, but was that enough? From what Logan had told her about his childhood, he and Honor hadn't spent a lot of time together, with both of them being in different boarding schools. And apparently, Logan had been pretty close to his grandmother but he hadn't seen her that often, mostly because of the same reason as with Honor, and then she had died.

No, the closest he got of a real family were Finn and Colin, the three of them not only being best friends, but brothers. If not by blood then at least by heart and perhaps, this was an even deeper connection. And Rory was happy for all of them that they had at least each other.

But was it a big enough substitute for never knowing parental love?

Rory hadn't the best of relationships with her dad and had seldom seen him and really didn't know him that well. Still, she knew that, whatever may be, her dad loved her and would give his life for her in a heartbeat.

She doubted though that the same could be said about Mitchum and Shira Huntzberger and for that, her heart would probably always ache for Logan. And knowing that helped her understand him better.

But was it enough to forgive him? The way he had shoved her aside as if the last year and a half hadn't happened at all? Letting her know about his break-up with her through Honor? He had claimed that he hadn't wanted Honor to call her, that this had been a mistake, but did it matter?

When they were alone, usually everything had been okay between them. He was sweet, tender and totally relaxed. And he remained being that while being together with Finn and Colin, though then his wild, adventurous and mischievous side came out as well. But as soon as they were together with strangers or the people from high society, he turned – cold. Reckless.

Rebellious.

Like the dinner with her grandparents and her mother, insisting to go through with that stupid LDB tradition, ruining further her mother's opinion of him which was already bad. She knew it was some defense mechanism of him and for that she had mostly overlooked it.

But he had also been rude to her friends, to Marty, to Jess. Paris, he mostly ignored, but then, that she did also. And he hadn't met Lane for a long time. He never had bothered to go to Stars Hollow and meet her friends there. But to be frank, she was hesitant for them to meet. She had hated the fact that Lane hadn't liked Jess when she had been together with him and she hadn't wanted a repetition of that. And she had feared that that would be the case with Logan as well. The first impression of Lane at her birthday party of Logan hadn't been bad, she seemed to have liked him. But shortly afterwards, they had that fight and had broken up so, of course, Lane now wasn't a fan of his anymore.

Okay, so relationships were new to Logan, no secret. She knew that. And had overlooked this or that because of that.

But this?

Then again, was this really the question now? Or was Flint instinctively right when he had asked his last question?

"Do you still love Mr. Huntzberger?"

Did she?

Let's just say that she was glad she hadn't had to answer it. Otherwise, the chance of them getting their annulment would probably have gone right out off the window.

The question was just… was it enough to forgive him? To risk giving him a second chance?

Rory was stirred out of her thoughts by Wellburn sitting down beside her, leaving Logan to Flint's questioning now. What would he ask Logan? The same things he had asked her? Or had he more questions about them to blindside him? Well, they were about to find out, weren't they?

"Mr. Huntzberger, when exactly did you break up with your wife?"

Rory suppressed rolling her eyes. Damn, Flint really never let an opportunity slip to stress the fact that they were married. But where exactly did he want to go with this angle?

"Shortly before Thanksgiving," Logan answered and Rory felt a stab at the memory of Honor's call on Thanksgiving.

"And is it true that it had been your decision?" Flint asked.

"Yes," Logan simply answered quietly.

"Why?"

Logan's eyes flickered to her, then he shrugged. "Like Rory said… we had a big fight, too big for my liking, so I thought I didn't need that." He hesitated a moment. He looked at her. "I thought we did break up with that fight," he added quietly.

"But you regretted your decision?" Flint asked.

"Yes," Logan simply answered again.

"And why is that?"

Logan said nothing.

"Mr. Huntzberger?"

Once again, Logan didn't answer.

"Mr. Huntzberger, would you please answer Mr. Flint's question," Judge Pollock now ordered Logan.

His eyes never leaving Rory's, Logan finally gave his answer. "Because I realized that I loved her, that I wanted her back," he said softly.

Flint looked at Rory, then back to Logan with a raised eyebrow. "So you're in love with your wife," he commented casually, driving the point home. "And you tried to win her back?"

"Yes." This time, Logan's answer was definitely hostile. No wonder. Rory would have loved to rip Flint's head off as well.

"But she told you to go to hell, more or less," Flint stated.

"Yes," Logan answered, even more hostile.

"And that would have been when?" Flint wanted to know.

"Early December," Logan gave a vague answer.

"December fifth, perhaps?" Flint clarified.

Boy, Flint sure had done his homework, Rory thought darkly as Logan nodded shortly. "Yes."

"Yet you contacted Peterson Security Service, one of the best and most expensive security firms in New Haven, the very next day after your wife blew you off and hired the company to keep your wife's apartment as well as the building she's living in, which I may add is in not such a good neighborhood, safe, is that correct?" Flint asked.

Rory's head snapped up to stare at Logan. He had what?

Avoiding her eyes, Logan gave another short nod. "Yes."

"And an additional contract to guard Mrs. Huntzberger?" Flint went on.

Rory's eyes narrowed. What?

"Yes," Logan said tersely, still avoiding Rory's glare.

"Hmm… your wife tells you she doesn't want to have anything to do with you anymore, yet you go and do everything in your power to keep her safe?" Flint shook his head. "An amazing reaction to receiving such a discouraging blow to your attempts to win her back, don't you think?"

Logan glared. "That place Rory lives in is not safe!" he hissed.

"And above all, you want to protect her, don't you, Mr. Huntzberger?" Flint asked knowingly.

"Yes!" Logan heatedly answered, then leaned back, glancing at Rory, only for a few seconds though.

"Because even if you're not together with her anymore, you wouldn't be able to bear it if something happens to your wife?"

Reluctantly, Logan nodded. "Yes," he said, barely above a whisper.

"You really love your wife a lot, don't you?"

This time, when Logan didn't answer, no one said anything.

Instead, Flint just continued. "Mr. Huntzberger, have you ever thought about proposing to Mrs. Huntzberger?"

Taking a deep breath, Logan gave a forced shrug. "I'm graduating this year. You tend to think about your future then."

But Flint would not let his vague answer go through. "So, the answer is yes?"

Rory's heart beat a thousand a minute as she waited for his answer, dreading it.

"Once or twice," Logan admitted finally in a low voice, his eyes briefly meeting hers.

'Shit', Rory thought as her heart fell into an emotional turmoil. 'He actually had meant it!'

"Mr. Huntzberger, then why, I ask myself, are you're here, asking for your marriage with Mrs. Huntzberger to be annulled when really, all you want is to spend the rest of your life with her in marriage?" Flint asked, raising an eyebrow.

At this, Logan looked up with narrowed eyes. "Because this is wrong. If we marry, I want it to be our own decision, not some stupid idea of one of my friends. And not some crazy fantasy by a mad magistrate. He had no right to force this on us, no right to steal our ability to make it our decision. Of robbing me of the opportunity to come to the decision that I want to propose, to go buy a ring for her and ask her myself, of us going through the preparations for our future life together and the wedding that will seal this, of us making sure that every single person we want to be there is invited, to pick out the right date to make sure of that. Her mother wasn't there, her best friend wasn't her maid of honor, her father didn't walk her down the aisle. Do you think we want a wedding like that? Rory deserves more, we deserve more." He took a deep breath. "The fake wedding may have been a stupid idea, even a mistake, but it still wasn't anything illegal. If you want to change that, fine, but it's not fair to let us suffer for your negligence. Mr. Jones has deceived us. He may be a magistrate, but the ceremony still hadn't been real, for none of us but him. And you really want to ask me why we want an annulment?"


"You okay?" Lorelai asked her daughter quietly.

Rory didn't answer, but just gave her a look.

Admittedly, it had been a stupid question. After all, she had gone through a thorough questioning by that bastard Flint and then had witnessed Logan going through the same thing and probably hearing one or two things that must have thrown her off. Lorelai knew that she for sure had been.

After Logan had been released from the witness stand, they had called Jones to the witness stand and he had sat there, smiling all the time at Rory and Logan while he had asserted time and time again that from the moment he had seen them, he had known that they belonged together, that it was God's will that the lovely couple was to be married and that he had only been the tool for His will.

Crap talk of a clearly mad man.

And yet, the judge had decided to put the handing down of a decision on their case on hold like he had done with those other three couples.

A bad sign.

But honestly, Lorelai couldn't blame Judge Pollock. In his place, she would probably have postponed a decision as well.

Her eyes traveled over to her son-in-law, leaning against the wall, head down, shoulders slumped and looking utterly defeated and probably not hearing a word of the encouragement his two friends, standing with him, tried to give him. She looked back to Rory who looked as defeated as Limo-boy and she sighed.

"Come on, Rory, what's the worst that can happen? The annulment is declined and you'll just have to get a divorce instead, which won't be a problem at all," she tried to cheer her daughter up.

All she got in return was another glare, before Rory abruptly stood up. "I need to go to the bathroom," she announced shortly and walked away from the bench they were sitting on.

With a heavy heart, Lorelai let her go, knowing that Rory needed to have a few moments alone. She watched her daughter's retreat though and so it didn't go by her that the moment Rory walked by Logan, Logan's head snapped up as if he had sensed her approach, his eyes following her every movement. Rory didn't glance at him or to where he was, not even once, but she did quicken her steps to vanish around the corner. Lorelai's eyes went back to Logan, whose gaze still lingered on the corner Rory had vanished behind, looking lost.

And again, Lorelai couldn't suppress a sigh. She had never liked Limo-boy. In her eyes, he was no good for her baby. But today, she had comprehended something very important.

This boy really loved her daughter – a lot. Probably more than either of Rory's boyfriends before. Certainly more than Jess. Lorelai had always suspected this, despite his being an asshole, he never had been one towards Rory, at least not from the moment they had gotten together until the night of their fight – and from what little Rory had told, even then he had been a perfect gentleman. Surely, Logan had never, even for a second, forced himself on Rory. Rory at least never had said something like that, but Lorelai was quite certain that it was indeed like that. A certainty she had acquired only today.

Now, she knew without doubt that Logan would give his life to protect Rory. That much was made clear by his reluctant admittance of his protectiveness towards her.

But what amazed Lorelai truly was that this boy even loved Rory more than Dean ever had. Logan never had used blackmail to keep Rory like Dean had or pressure her to do or say something he wanted. When she had said no to his plea to take him back, he had accepted it once he had seen that she was adamant in her decision and had let her go, not trying even once to get her back, hell, to even see her. Until this marriage fiasco had brought them back together, that was. And she knew instinctively that he would never, ever hurt Rory by making a scene in front of a bunch of people like Dean had done not only once, but twice.

Lorelai hated to concede and give him all that. And if she wanted to be honest, hearing about him even hiring a security company and a bodyguard to keep Rory safe while living in that dump gave him a lot of plus points. Yeah, he had made it without Rory's consent, and in Rory's place, she would be annoyed like hell about that, but she wasn't. She was the mother who had nightmares about what could happen to her baby in that neighborhood and was just thankful for Logan's thoughtfulness and protectiveness. Plus, she had watched him during Flint's questioning of Rory and it hadn't been hard to tell that he was as ready to rip off Flint's head for his being that rude and cruel to Rory as she had been ready to do also. Another plus point. And even more when Logan had so vehemently explained why exactly he wanted the annulment, every word of his speech spoken out of a deep love for her daughter and the honest wish to marry her the right way and not like that – if they were to marry. Not to mention that it showed more than anything else just how well that boy had gotten to know her baby, the way he had instinctively known what was important to Rory… to have a wedding she planned and wanted. What she would need.

Yet… even with all the plus points he had gotten today, Lorelai still couldn't help but hope that it wouldn't come to that. Logan Huntzberger may love her daughter like she deserved to be loved, but he was still arrogant, too confident of himself, too used to always getting his way, too rich and too dangerous. And he came from what Lorelai had fled from all her life. If Rory really married him, she would end up just like Lorelai's mom, become like her and Lorelai never wanted to see that.

But…

The problem was that Lorelai knew that her daughter loved this boy as well and she hadn't needed to see the answer in Rory's eyes when asked that question by Flint. Loved him a lot. But did she love him enough to give Logan the second chance he so desperately wanted?

He had hurt Rory badly, very badly, by his actions, by his words.

Hell, her baby had stopped drinking coffee because of him!

Though she was back on the coffee train, lately. Still not enjoying it like she had before, but she was back honoring the Gilmore's nectar. And that had only happened the moment this boy had come back into her life.

And that was the reason why Lorelai had started to look for plus points for Logan.

Her instinct told her that she'd need them, sooner or later.

Now though her eyes narrowed when she saw determination come over the boy in question and then he pushed away from the wall and left his friends standing as he followed Rory.

Bad idea. And if she could help it, Lorelai wouldn't let Limo-boy drag Rory into another confrontation right now. Quickly, she stood up and followed them as well.


"That looks like trouble," Colin muttered darkly as they watched Rory's mom following Logan who in turn had followed Rory.

Finn simply nodded and started to go as well. "I'll see to it that it won't be the show of the century. You stay here. I think the less people, the better."

Colin gave a short nod and Finn quickened his steps to reach Rory's mom before she could rip into Logan. He didn't need that right now. He was shaken enough by all the things that had come to light during Rory and Logan's questioning. No wonder. That Flint guy sure had done his job very well. Too well. And while Finn hadn't liked the way this guy had spoken to his friends, had exposed them and their innermost thoughts and feelings to a whole courtroom of people, even if Logan had managed to keep this hearing under a tight wrap, he couldn't help but think that basically, it was about damn time that all those things had been said once and for all. It just should have happened in private, Logan and Rory finally sitting down together to talk, admit, reveal what they truly feel. Work through it. On their own free will.

Of course, as stubborn as those two idiots were, it probably would have been more likely that the next ice age overtook the world than that happening.

Now though, too much had been said and he thought even those idiots had gotten by now that they needed to talk, desperately.

To be fair also, it was Rory who was refusing the much needed talk. For a while now, his mate had comprehended that much. Actually quite a lot, for Logan. After all, he had realized finally that for him, there was no one else other than his precious Ace and he better make sure that he wins her back once and for all. Something Finn had already realized the first time he had seen them together, at that fateful day Rory had given Logan a piece of her mind, guaranteeing herself Logan's immediate interest. He couldn't explain it, but he had seen the twinkle in Logan's eyes, his smile, so genuine and real, like he had seldom seen it as well as the annoyance in Rory's face, the distaste - but also the way her cheeks had been flushed and he had known that two souls had found each other. No, he hadn't been surprised at all by Logan's amused and a little bewildered smile afterwards, nor by the fact that within a few weeks, Rory had entered all their lives by finding out about the LDB. Logan had been annoyed as hell, but his attraction to that strange girl had been obvious.

It had been funny to watch Logan fall, hard, for his Ace. How he had rebelled against it, despite growing more and more attached to this very special girl. How he had started to change, because of her, for her, to be a better man, more responsible – more centered. Finn had always loved Logan but he had no problem admitting that before Rory, he had been a spoiled, arrogant guy who sometimes could be a big ass. And he liked the change in his best mate.

But of course, not everything had been for the good. For one, there was the jealousy Logan suddenly started to fall victim to, a little funny at first but soon becoming dangerously serious when he nearly had started a riot at Finn's party when Rory had shown up with Robert. Or when he had thrown away that wonderful girl just like that, just because he hadn't liked the way her ex-boyfriend had looked at her. And then there were all the times Logan had been so confused about what was happening to him because of that girl, that he had been totally lost. But worst of all, watching the pain his best mate was experiencing now, because of their break-up, and being unable to do anything.

And not only Logan was suffering. It was easy to see that Rory also was suffering like hell, something Finn hated to see. Because as much as he loved Logan and was loyal to him – he had fast learned to love Rory as well. How could he not, with that warm, gentle heart of hers, her wit, her intelligence, her beauty, inwardly and outwardly?

Rory wasn't just perfect and good for Logan – she was perfect and good for all three of them. Since she had gotten together with Logan she had watched out for them, had seen to it that they behaved better as much as she always had been there for them, if they wanted to talk or needed the opinion of a girl. She didn't hesitate to tell them exactly what she thought about them or their actions, but still, she never judged them. Had sometimes even justified them to others, even when she herself had been more than displeased about them. She had become one of them, a friend, a sister, and Finn and Colin would go for her to the end of the world, if necessary.

No, Logan wasn't the only one who missed Rory badly. Needed her back in his life.

And while Finn agreed with Logan that this marriage mess wasn't the right way and that this Jones guy clearly had lost all his marbles – he was also endlessly thankful to him for bringing Rory and Logan back together, for them to at least talk again with each other. Even if talking mostly still consisted of fighting. Finn was confident that in the end, the world would be right again with Logan and Rory back together, for good this time.

If there wasn't too much meddling, interference by someone who did not like the thought of Rory and Logan together that much.

Finn could understand Lorelai Gilmore's need to protect her daughter. Hell, if he'd thought that Logan hadn't learned his lesson by now he actually would do the same thing. And in a way, Finn also understood Rory's mother's dislike of Logan. If he wanted, Logan could be a real ass and so far, Rory's mom had unfortunately only seen some of Logan's worst traits. But that just was it. Rory's mother didn't really know him, so how could she trust him, especially with her daughter? She had never seen the tenderness with which Logan treated her daughter. Never experienced his fierce protectiveness towards her. Never had seen the lengths Logan would go to for his Ace. Never had seen the love and wonder in his eyes whenever he looked at Rory. She hadn't witnessed him falling for her daughter harder and harder, how very much she had changed him. Hadn't watched him go from a womanizer to a faithful boyfriend, not even looking at other girls anymore, only having eyes for his Ace.

Hadn't seen the agony he was in because he thought he had lost Rory forever.

If she had, Finn was convinced that she would stop being so very against Logan. Perhaps could even learn to accept him, like him, though Finn wouldn't lay his hand on fire for that one. He just knew that somehow, Logan needed to find a way to get Rory's mom to warm up to him because as close as Rory was to her mother, they could never be truly happy without Lorelai at least giving her blessing to them.

For now though, Logan was too focused on winning Rory back. Didn't mean though that Finn couldn't try giving his mate a little of a head start.

With a few steps, he had reached Rory's mom and fell in step with her, reaching into one of his pockets to hand her an envelope and stop her from going after Logan. "A little birdie told me that you wanted to see the pictures of the happy wedding," he said, smiling big.

With a frown, she turned to him. "What?"

Finn's smile widened. "The wedding pictures of the two lovebirds. There's also a video, but that I'll keep until we celebrate the real wedding." He laughed and winked at her. "Jeez, that will be a blast, don't you think so?"

Her eyes, so very much like her daughter's, narrowed. "You're Finn, aren't you?"

Smoothly, Finn gave a deep bow. "Finley Thadeus Theverborough, at your service, fair maiden."

They already had met once before but seeing as that had been in a police station where they had needed to go to bail Rory and Logan out, he thought it couldn't hurt to make a more official introduction.

Rory's mom was amused, that much he could see in her eyes – as well as her obvious reluctance about that. For a moment he thought about adding his standard 'Have we met?' comment as well but then thought better of it. "I'm thrilled to see that you remember me," he instead said, wriggling an eyebrow.

"Rory talked a lot about you," Lorelai said dryly and then turned to pick up her way again. "If you'll excuse me, now, I have to see after my daughter."

Losing the grin and turning serious in an instant, Finn risked his life by stopping her with a hand on her elbow. "I think we should give them a moment alone."

"And I think that your friend should finally leave my daughter alone," Lorelai countered, her eyes narrowing to slits.

Finn recognized that look from Rory. It never was a good sign. Still, he kept his hold on her. "Whether you like it or not, they need to talk," he told her.

"That may be true, but certainly not now. The least she needs now is another confrontation, let alone with Logan," Lorelai protested and yanked her elbow free.

"With all due respect, Ms. Gilmore, but that's not for us to decide," Finn said gently, but firmly. "If Reporter Girl doesn't want to talk, she'll tell Logan herself. If she wants him to leave her alone, she'll let him know that as well. And you may think about him what you want but he'll respect her wishes." He shook his head. "The last thing he wants is to hurt her."

It needed to have been said, if only once.

"Hasn't stopped him from doing just that," Lorelai snapped.

Finn smiled sadly. "No, it hasn't. Nor has it Rory. Because believe me, Logan is hurting as well. A lot."

Another thing that needed to have been said.

"Forgive me if my sympathy for him is not so big," Lorelai said sarcastically.

Finn shrugged. "I don't expect you to have sympathy for him. I just want you to know that he's going through hell right now, because of the way he had treated Rory that night they foolishly had broken up and because he has lost her over that." His voice quieted. "He has learned from his mistakes. He wants to make them right. He has learned his lesson. He knows better now than to ever risk losing Rory again, should she decide to take him back. Because he has realized that he can't live without her."

Lorelai shook her head. "Why exactly are you telling me this? What do you think you'll gain by this?" she wanted to know.

Glad that she hadn't contradicted him yet again, Finn was very serious when he gave her his answer. "I just want you to know that Logan loves your daughter deeply. I know he has fucked up in the past, especially when he had met you, but he has changed a lot since then, thanks to Reporter Girl. And even more since their break-up. You don't really know him. His fault, because he never let you, nor did he try to get to know you. Still, fact is that you don't know him. But I'm his best friend, he's like my brother. I know him. And I tell you that he loves Rory. He won't hurt her again, not if it is in his power."

For a long moment, Rory's mom was very still, holding Finn's eyes. "But will he be able to protect her from himself? From his family? From his life? It's not just that I don't like him much. I don't trust him, his background." She shook her head. "I may not look like it, but I grew up in the same world as you have, Finn. I know how it works. Rory needs more of life than ending up as some trophy wife, even if her husband truly loves her."

Finn laughed, he just couldn't stop it. "Rory a trophy wife? Please…" He chuckled again. "Rory would never let that happen. And the least Logan wants is a trophy wife." He grew serious again. "It's been a while since you left high society. Things have changed. I know there are still a lot who live like before, who are content being rich and ending up in loveless marriages. Or perhaps rather who doesn't fight it. But a lot of us don't want that. Want more. Logan's one of them, we all are. The only difference is that he has found a way to make it happen for him. Through Rory. And no," he added when he saw her open her mouth in protest, "she's not just a tool in achieving that. That's not why Logan wants your daughter so badly, needs her that much. That is solely because he loves her so much."

He gave another sad smile. "But let's forget about Logan for a moment and let's talk about Rory. You see yourself how much she's hurting because of their break-up. And I'm pretty sure that you know as well as I do that she still loves Logan, even if she fights it, denies it." Lorelai's visible annoyance was answer enough. "I know you think the best thing would be for her to get rid of Logan once and for all. But honestly, do you really think that that will make her happy?"

Lorelai said nothing.

"Can you entertain the possibility that perhaps, to be happy again, she needs Logan as much as he needs her?" he asked softly after a moment.

Lorelai frowned.

Finn looked into the direction Logan and Rory had vanished in. "I think that that's the only way. But in the end, it doesn't matter what I think or even what you think. The only ones who can make this decision are Rory and Logan." He looked back at Rory's mom, meeting her eyes. "All I ask you is that, should Rory decide in his favor, that you'll give him a chance. Just a chance. If he busts it again, he's an idiot, but I don't think he will. He'll need that chance though."

He held her eyes for a long moment longer.

Finally, Lorelai sighed. "Look, Finn, I admire the way you stand up for your friend. Really, I do. And I can see why my daughter likes you so much. But I have to do what I think is right. Right now, I'm not sure what is best for Rory." For a moment, she looked away, but then her eyes were back to meet Finn's eyes. "I can't promise you anything. But… I do see that Logan loves Rory very much," she told him gently. "And that is definitely something in his favor in my eyes."

Knowing that that was all he could get from Rory's mom, Finn nodded quietly and then smiled. "Good enough."

And it was. Actually more than he had hoped for. It was good to know that Rory's mom at least accepted the fact that Logan loved Rory. And Finn had been able to speak a little in his mate's favor.

But most of all, Logan had gained a little time with Rory while Finn and Lorelai had talked. He just hoped that he had used that time well and that he didn't give Rory's mom reason to regret her decision to let herself be kept away by Finn.


"Rory."

Her hands grabbing the edge of the sink tightly, Rory didn't look up. "This is a girl's bathroom," she said tonelessly.

"I know, but…" He didn't continue. But she too said nothing more, so in the end, he sighed. "I'm sorry that I busted it," he said quietly.

Busted what? The hearing? Or their relationship?

Did it matter?

Slowly, Rory raised her head to look at Logan via the mirror. "You didn't bust it, at least not alone," she said softly. Then she gave a weary smile. "I guess we should have had that talk you wanted after all."

Logan shook his head. "Even if we had, Flint would have still taken us apart piece by piece." His expression darkened. "That guy simply knew way too much about us."

Undeniably so. And it would be interesting to know who the little birdie was who had told the lawyer all those details. But that wasn't what was foremost on her mind. Far from it. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and met his eyes.

"Did you really hire a security company?" she asked, even when she knew that it was the truth. She needed it to hear again, him telling her and not some strangers while she just happened to be in the same place to overhear it.

He stiffened and his face closed off. "I know you probably are furious about that but I won't terminate the service contracts." His eyes were hard with determination. "Not as long as you live where you live. It's too unsafe for you there."

Rory crossed her arms in front of her. "I didn't ask you to terminate them."

"And whatever you may think about it, I won't… What?" he exclaimed, a deep frown between his eyes.

She almost smiled, almost. "I should probably be more annoyed about it and I really don't like that you went over my head like you did, not telling me a word about it." She sighed. "Then again, we weren't really talking anymore, were we?" She shook her head. "No, I'm not angry about it. You did what you thought was right, what you needed to do and it's kind of nice knowing that someone has an eye on my place. And Mom loves it, that much I can tell. I just wish people would trust me more that I can take care of myself, especially those who should know me better."

His frown deepened. "We do trust you, Rory. But the fact is that you may have all the mace in the world with you but it won't keep a man with a gun or even only a knife from hurting you, if he has set his mind on it. Let alone if it's more than one," he said softly. "And we who love you couldn't bear something happening to you."

There, he had said it again. That he loved her. That he couldn't bear something happening to her, indicating just how important she was to him. And he had said it like it was the most natural thing of all, not the big thing it really was.

Why couldn't he have figured that out while they still had been together?

It would have been so much easier back then.

And she believed him. He was a charmer, definitely, and sneaky like hell, but really not so good at lying. At hiding, yes, there he excelled, but not at lying. And his eyes, the tone in his voice, the way he said it, held himself, told her that it was the truth.

He loved her. Needed to keep her safe, whether they were together or not.

Wanted her back.

To eventually marry her.

No wonder she loved him so much.

But could she ever trust him again? Would he give up again, as soon as they hit the next rock on the road? Would she be able to get over losing him again?

"Rory…"

She looked up. "Why do you keep calling me Rory? What happened to Ace?" she wanted to know, suddenly annoyed hearing her name 'Rory' out of his mouth. She had been used to him calling her Rory only when he had been very serious or while in the throes of passion and she had liked that. And she missed hearing him saying Ace to her.

At first, Logan looked startled. Then he looked away and shrugged. "It just doesn't seem appropriate anymore." Before Rory could ask why, he continued. "Ace is the girl I fell for, annoyed me, enticed me, became my friend, my friends' friend. Who stole my heart, without me even noticing it, not until it was too late." He looked back at her. "The girl I'm happy to be with, with whom I can laugh or be silent and it just feels good. My girl, my Ace."

Rory frowned, not liking the implication. "And I'm not that girl anymore?"

What happened to him loving her then?

"Of course you still are," Logan protested immediately. "But you're not my girl anymore. So using Ace doesn't feel right anymore." He looked down. "It only reminds me more than anything else that you're not my Ace anymore. It hurts too much," he finished his explanation in a low voice.

Chagrined, Rory looked down again. Well, she had wanted to hear it, hadn't she? Why did she suddenly feel so bad? He had given up on them first, not her.

"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you just threw me away like a pair of old socks," she said, but her voice lacked heat. She was too tired to fight anymore, with anyone, let alone Logan.

Slowly, Logan looked back at her. "Yeah, I should have. But have you never made mistakes, Rory?"

"You know I have," she simply answered, meeting his gaze. Deciding that she had enough, she pushed away from the sink. "And I try not to make more mistakes," she said, moving past him.

He intercepted her leave with a brief touch on her arm. "It won't be a mistake," he promised her, his eyes flaming with certainty, sincerity.

Rory said nothing but she did hold his eyes. Finally though, she left, without saying another word.

But her heart beat fast.

Once again, she believed him.


When all the hearings finally were over and Pollock had postponed his decision for yet another couple, the five couples were called back into the courtroom to hear his decision.

Quietly, the people waited for the judge to speak.

"We are all aware that this is quite a unique case. I agree with the arguments of the lawyers of the plaintiffs that this is not the right way to marry. The decision should be yours and no one else's. However, I can't help but be disappointed how a serious thing as a marriage is used as a play thing, make it a party hit. A marriage is a legal contract, a holy promise and not something to be looked upon lightly. Couples like you who are perhaps already heading towards a legalized union, should know even better than the other victims who took part on the fake weddings by marrying complete strangers." He looked sternly at the couples in question. "While I do not agree with Mr. Jones' methods and will make sure that he'll lose his magistrate license, he did see in all of your cases something that made him marry you for real and Mr. Flint has further pointed that out. And that is the reason why I decided to not let all of you off the hook so easily with an annulment. For four months you have been married, without knowing it. So for four months more, you'll live now as the married couples that you are. You'll share a household and will share your lives with each other. After the four months, you can file for a divorce, if that is your wish. But I hope this way, you and other people will see that a marriage is nothing to play around with it."

With that, Pollock pounded his gavel and then quickly left the courtroom, leaving behind enraged couples and relatives, gleeful bystanders and a smiling Jones. It was chaos.

Inside the courtroom, Logan and Rory slowly looked at each other, not saying a word, not even one of protest to Mr. Wellburn, still standing beside them. They both were too shocked about Pollock's decision. Not very surprised, but still shocked. Finally, Rory just tiredly shook her head, turned and left. Logan's head sank down.

What a mess.

He didn't notice Colin and Finn approaching him and was startled a bit when Finn slapped him on his back. "Look at the bright side, mate. At least now you'll save a lot of money because you no longer have to pay that security company to keep your girl safe," he tried to cheer him up.

Logan just gave him a look and then turned to flee the courtroom as well. He wasn't in the mood to joke around or look at the bright side of anything. For that it was too serious.

Too much of a catastrophe.

God, what the hell was he going to do now?

And even worse: How in the hell was he supposed to explain everything to his family and survive it in one piece? And just how could he stop them from ripping into Rory like a monster gone wild?


TBC!

(Author's Note: Well, well, well… yet another chapter and once again a story that had to wait a bit too long for this update. I hope I'll be able to update sooner. Thanks for the patience and the little nagging here and there to urge me on to continue. I really appreciate this. I loved to write this chapter – and yeah, I'm aware it's highly farfetched. But hey, I said right from the beginning that this baby here will fall into the category oh highly unlikely – but that is the beautiful thing with fiction, you can let your imagination go wild all you want as long as you follow at least some basic rules. And furthermore I'm only a TV junkie and not anything close to a lawyer or anything else that has to do with the law, let alone American law. I guess that much it's obvious. Still, I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite all that and had fun reading about Rory and Logan withering under Flint's merciless questions and their own heavy thoughts! Next: Telling the families. Grin. I'm already looking forward to that!)